Mechanical toy



'June8,1937. RTER 2,083,218

MECHANICAL TOY Filed Dec. 31, 1935 INVENTOR WLL/HM C42 TEE ATTORN EYPatented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES;

attain PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to toys particularly of the mechanical or springmotor driven type; and to toys of this type employing a guide rail orcord upon which the toy is operated; and the object of the invention isto provide a toy device or apparatus of the class described involving arelatively long rail or cord including upwardly inclined, horizontal anddownwardly inclined portions or sections as well as curved corners orsections whereby a toy device in the form of an aeroplane or the likemay be operated upon said rail by its self-contained motive power tosimilate a take-off; flight and landing of an aeroplane in onecontinuous cycle of operation, to imitate as near as possible the actualflight or operation of an aeroplane; a'further'object being to provide atoy of the class described, the aeroplane or other movable body of whichincludes in the housing or fuselage thereof a spring motor mechanism,which is balanced in its mounting therein, to maintain the aeroplane orother body in a desired plane of operation while traversing over thetrack or rail; a further object being to provide a motor or powermechanism, involving two guide rollers adapted to engage the track orrail. at least one of which is power driven andpreferably provided witha friction surface with means for governing the speed of the motor andfurther with means for controlling the stopping and starting thereof; afurther object being to provide a channeled or U-shaped hood whichenvelops .the guide and traction rollers of the toy to facilitate thequick attachment and detachment of the toy with the track or rail, andwhich also acts as a guard against displacement of the toy from thetrack or rail should the traction and guide wheels be accidentallydisengaged from the track or rail; a further object being to provide inthe track or rail corner and other reinforcing sections, preferablycomposed of a relatively firm or rigid material which may, however, beshaped to the desired curvature or contour, with means at the ends ofsaid sections for coupling track or rail cords or strands therewith, andfurther with means whereby said sections may be coupled with suitablesupports arranged outwardly of and. in spaced relation to the track orrail; and with these and other objects in view,the in vention consistsin a toy of the class and for the purpose specified, which issimple inconstruction, efiicient in use, and which is con structed as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which:

Fig. 11s a diagrammatic plan view indicating one method of mounting aguide or supporting track or rail in connection with the walls of a.room or compartment.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view substantially illustrating anarrangement of track or rail elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side and sectional view of a toy in the form of anaeroplane, indicating the method of supporting the same upon a track orrail.

' Fig.4 is a transverse sectional view through the aeroplane shown inFig. 3 with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the front end portion of-the aeroplane shown inFigs. 3 and 4 and indicating the position of the traction and guidewheels thereon.

Fig. dis a detail view of one of the curved rail sections which Iemploy.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view of one end portion of a rail sectionindicating one method of attaching a rail cord or strand therewith;

and,

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view illustrating the supporting arm of oneofthe rail-sections.

In the use and operation of my improved toy, the same may be set up andoperated in a room or compartment or out of doors, in which latter case,the guide track or rail will be supported in connection with posts,trees or other similar supports to keep the same above the ground. Tosimplify the illustration, I have diagrammatically shown in Fig. l ofthe drawing, by the dot and dash lines It, II, It, and I3, what may beregarded as the walls of a room or compartment. At It, I haveillustratedaguide track or rail, which in the construction shown, consists of fourcurved corner sections 1 l5 and one straight side section l5a. .All ofthese sections are provided centrally thereof with. outwardly extendingsupporting arms i5, to the free erids of which are attached cords orwires ll for mounting the same in connection with the walls or theintersecting corners of the walls as is diagrammatically illustrated inFig. 1 of th in Fig. 7 of the drawing so as to maintain, as near aspossible, the upper surface of the section IS in common alinement withthe upper surface of the sections l5, I5a to form a substantiallycontinuous unobstructed traction surface. Upon a consideration of Fig. 3of the drawing, it will appear that the supporting arms 16 are set belowthe upper surfaces of the sections l5, l5a so as to provide free passageof the flanges of the traction and guide rollers of the toy thereover toprevent what might be termed derailing of the toy.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated the methodof supporting the guide track or rail 14 to produce a desired climbingof the toy, a horizontal movement, and a descending or landing of thetoy from a starting point, such for example as a table top indicated at2! in Figs. 1 and 2. That part or section l8a of the sections l8 whichis located at the lower portion of Fig. 1 of the drawing will constitutea flexible section extending between the corner sections l5, arranged atthe lower part of said figure.

In the operation of the toy, the aeroplane will be started from thetable 2! and rise upwardly in the direction of the arrow 3:, pass aroundthe corner m and then horizontally across and will travel slightly in adownward direction until it passes around the corner m after which itwill continue to travel in a downward direction, passing around thecorners m and x and will stop in a graceful landing upon the table top2|. In other words, the motive power of the toy is suflicient to propelthe toy to the highest point of inclination on the track and to give ita start in its downward travel, after which it will continue tooperateby gravity until it reaches the landing.

The track or rail may be arranged in any desired plan or contour, or totravel through spirals or around several corners in an irregular andnon-symmetric fashion; and the illustration in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawing is simply to clearly illustrate one method of carrying theinvention into effect. The sections [5 may be constructed of suchmaterial as to facilitate bending thereof, while at the same timemaintaining a predetermined curvature or contour when the device is inuse; but, in most cases, said sections will assume a curved orarc-shaped contour to care for angular arrangement of adjacent sectionsl8.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawing, I have shown one form of toy whichI may employ, the same being fashioned to represent an aeroplane, andconsists of a suitable body or fuselage 22 which may be constructed ofany suitable material and terminates at its rear end portion in therepresentation of elevators 23, rotor 24 and a bottom landing wheel 25;whereas, the forward end portion of the fuselage has a rounded orcontracted nose portion 25, rearwardly of which the opposite sides ofthe fuselage has the representation of laterally extending wings 21 withenlarged portions 28 thereon to represent motors disposed at each sideof the fuselage. The forward end of the motor representations has disks29 thereon, preferably composed of celluloid or semi-transparentmaterial to give the representation of fast rotating propellers when thetoy is in operation. The lower side portions of the fuselage 22 areprovided with outwardly projecting frame portions 30 having projectingwheel representations 34 to similate the landing gear of an aeroplane.It may be said here that this structure would be modified in designingthe toy in the form of a hydroplane for making take offs and landings ona tub, basin or other body of water. On top of the fuselage is anupwardly projecting curved or U-shaped body 35 preferably of thelongitudinal contour represented in Fig. 5 of the drawing. This body isopen at one side as indicated at 36 in Fig. 4 of the drawing to form asubstantially hook-shaped guard and safety housing 31 at one side of theprojection 35 to prevent accidental displacement of the aeroplane fromthe track l4 should the same become dislodged from the track and guiderollers. The projecting body 35 may be characterized to represent thepilot compartment or cabin of the aeroplane.

Arranged within the forward end portion of the fuselage 22 is a springmotor unit 38 consisting of a central plate 39 and two side plates 40and 4| which may be supported in any desired manner in connection withthe fuselage and which is so arranged as to equally balance the severalmotor parts in the fuselage so that the wings of the aeroplane aremaintained in a horizontal position when mounted upon the track or raill4.

Any desired type of spring motor may be employed, and in theconstruction shown, I have indicated at 42 the rotatable or windingshaft of the spring 43 of said motor. The square or angular end of theshaft 42 is accessible through an opening 44 in one side of the fuselageand by a long shaft key indicated in dot and dash lines at 45 in Fig. 5of the drawing. At one side of the spring 43 is a large drive gear 46which is driven by said spring, the gear 46 engaging a pinion 41 on ashaft 48 on which is another gear 49 in operative engagement with apinion 53 having a larger gear 5| meshing with a gear 52 on a driveshaft 53, the rotation of which is controlled by a suitable governor 54.The shaft 53 has a drive or traction wheel 55 outwardly of the centerplate 39, and the surface 56 of this wheel is preferably composed offriction material, such as rubber or the like.

I also employ a hand operated stop and start pawl 51 for controlling thestopping and starting of the motor, and especially in the operation ofwinding the spring 43. The frame plates 39 and 4| are provided withrearwardly directed extensions 58 in connection with which is supporteda guide roller or wheel 59 which aids in supporting the plane in properlongitudinal position with respect to the rail and also aids in guidingthe aeroplane in its movement over the rail M.

The power of the spring motor will be sufficient to operate the toy oraeroplane over a predetermined and specific limit of inclination of atrack, or in other words, at a predetermined pitch as well as for apredetermined length of a track. In the sale of the toy, instructions orspecifications will be given to indicate these limits. However, inexperience I have found that the aeroplane may be operated to travelupwardly an elevation of several feet within the length of a room ofnormal size. However, if the plane is made sufiiciently light and themotor power sufliciently strong, the limits of upward travel anddistance travel can be proportionately increased.

In the event that the track or rail 14 has not been properly set up fora given toy, or further,

' in the event that the spring of the motor has not been properly wound,no detrimental accident can take place in that the toy will remain onthe rail at all times, and may simply slide backward y on an inclinedsection.

My invention is not limited to the contour or design of the toy hereinillustrated, nor to the particular type of motor herein diagrammaticallyindicated, and various other changes may be made in the design andconstruction of the toy within the scope of the invention hereindefined.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a toy having a motor driven traction wheel, a track upon whichsaid wheel is mounted, means including the wheel for guiding the toy inits movement over said track, means involving curved track sections forsupporting the track in connection with supports arranged in spacedrelation thereto and with portions of said track arranged in upwardlyand downwardly extending directions, said toy being propelled along thetrack by the rotation of said traction Wheel through power meansself-contained in the toy, said traction wheel having a surface offriction material, and the toy including a hook-shaped hood portionarranged adjacent the traction wheel and preventing accidentaldisplacement of the toy from the track.

2. In a toy apparatus of the class described, a toy member ofpredetermined contour, a spring motor in said member, a traction wheelarranged in the upper portion of said member and adapted to engage arail to suspend the member therefrom, said traction wheel being drivenby said motor to propel said member longitudinally of the rail, theupper end portion of said member including a U-shaped housing partiallyencircling said traction wheel, the motor being centralized and balancedwithin said member to maintain predetermined horizontal arrangement ofsaid member, and a guide wheel arranged in spaced relation to saidtraction wheel to aid in supporting and guiding the member on said rail.

3. In combination with a toy aeroplane having self-contained motivepower and a traction wheel driven by said motive power, of meansarranged and supported above a floor or other surface for suspending theaeroplane when in operation and for guiding the same in upward,horizontal and downwardly extending directions to similate the take-off,flight and landing of an aeroplane, the take-off and flight of theaeroplane being mechanically driven by said traction wheel over saidfirst named means, 'means on the aeroplane to aid in supporting andguiding the plane in its movement over said suspending means, and meanson the aeroplane adjacent said traction wheel and last named means forpreventing accidental displacement of the aeroplane from said suspendingmeans.

4. In combination with a toy aeroplane having self-contained motivepower and a traction wheel driven by said motive power, of meansarranged and supported above a floor or other surface forsuspending theaeroplane when in operation and for guiding. the same in upward,horizontal and downwardly extending directions to similate the take-off,flight and landing of an aeroplane, the take-ofi and flight of theaeroplane being mechanically driven by said traction wheel over saidfirst named means, means on the aeroplane to aid in supporting andguiding the plane in its movement over said suspending means, means onthe aeroplane adjacent said traction wheel and last named means forpreventing accidental displacement from said suspending means, saidsuspending means involving a plurality of flexible and substantiallyrigid rail sections, and predetermined rigid sections being curved.

5. A toy .of the class described comprising a suitable body, a poweroperating unit arranged in said body, said unit comprising a frameconsisting of a central plate and two side plates, a drive shaft mountedin the central, plate and one of said side plates adjacent the lowerportion of saidunit, a driven shaft mounted in the central plate and theother of said side plates at the upper portion of said unit, a geartrain for placing the drive shaft in operative engagement with thedriven shaft, a spring for operating the drive shaft, a traction wheelon the driven shaft, and means involving a governor for controlling theoperation of the driven shaft to propel the toy by said traction wheelover a support engaged thereby.

6. A toy of the class described comprising a suitable body, a poweroperating unit arranged in said body, said unit comprising a frameconsisting of a central plate and two side plates, a drive shaft mountedin the central plate and one of said side plates adjacent the lowerportion of said unit, a driven shaft mounted in the central plate andthe other of said side plates at the upper portion of said unit, a geartrain for placing the drive shaft in operative engagement with thedriven shaft, a spring for operating the drive shaft, a traction wheelon the driven shaft, means involving a governor for controlling theoperation of the driven shaft to propel the toy by said traction wheelover a support engaged thereby, said unit being balanced in the body ofthe toy, and the upper portion of the toy having a hook-shaped hoodarranged over and partially covering said traction wheel.

7. In a toy having a motor driven traction, wheel, a track upon whichsaid wheel is mounted and from which the toy is suspended, said trackincluding upwardly and downwardly extending portions to provide for theascent and descent of the toy in traversing said track, means includingsaid driven traction wheel for propelling the toy in its upward movementover the inclined portion of the track in ascending, and means forguiding the toy over the track including the descending portion thereof,and means for supporting the track in connection withsupports arrangedin spaced relation thereto to per mit movement of the toy longitudinallyof the track.

8. In a toy having a motor driven traction wheel, a track upon whichsaid wheel is mounted and from which the toy is suspended, said trackincluding upwardly and downwardly extending portions to provide for theascent and descent of the toy in traversing said track, means includingsaid driven traction wheel for propelling the toy in its upward movementover the inclined portion of the track in ascending, means for guidingthe toy over the track including the descending portion thereof, meansfor supporting the track in connection with supports articn wheel beingself-contained in the toy, and

the traction wheel having a surface of friction material. 7

9. In a toy apparatus of the class described employing a motor driventoy element of predetermined design, said element having a selfcontainedmotor and a traction wheel driven by said motor, means for supportingand guiding said element in the operation thereof, said means comprisinga relatively long elevated track including upwardly extending portions,horizontal portions and downwardly extending portions, said elementbeing mechanically driven over predetermined portions of said track bysaid traction wheel, means involving rail sections of relatively rigidmaterial for supporting the rail in spaced relation to predeterminedvertical supports arranged outwardly of the rail and above a floor orother surface, some of said rail sections being curved, rail sections offlexible material joining said rigid sections, and means for couplingthe flexible sections to the rigid sections so as to arrange uppersurfaces of both sections in common alinement.

10. In a toy apparatus of the class described, a, toy device having acasing of predetermined contour, a spring motor mounted within andsupported by said casing, a traction wheel on said casing and driven bysaid motor to provide the sole means of mechanically moving the deviceover its support, means in addition to said traction Wheel for guidingsaid toy over a support, and the support for said device comprising anelongated guide rail having upwardly, horizontally and downwardlyextending sections and curved corner sections, whereby in the movementof said toy device over said rail by the engage ment of the tractionwheel therewith, the same will simulate the take-off, flight, andlanding of an aeroplane.

WILLIAM CARTER.

